The 2024 Georgia High School Association softball playoffs get started on Wednesday with 15 northeast Georgia area teams looking to play their way to Columbus and a shot at a state title.
Classes 6A, 4A, 2A, and A Division 2 will begin their best-of-three series on Wednesday with doubleheaders and Game 3s, if necessary, on Thursday. Classes 5A, 3A, A Division 1 will open their best-of-three series on Friday with doubleheaders and Game 3s, if necessary, on Saturday.
Buford and Banks County lead a quality field of teams across seven of the eight classifications, with 12 of the teams making a return trip from 2023.
In 2023, 14 teams in all qualified for the postseason, with only Buford and Banks County advancing to Columbus. Four other teams -- Jefferson in 5A, East Forsyth and North Hall in 4A, and Union County in 2A -- all were just one win from making the Elite 8 field in Columbus in their classifications.
Buford comes into the 2024 playoffs having won two straight state titles in the old Class 7A. The Lady Wolves are ranked No. 1 in Georgia and fifth nationally and are a heavy favorite to win the Class 6A crown this season.
Banks County, now playing in Class A Division 1, is the fifth overall seed in Class A D1, which uses the new Power Rankings System (PRS) to seed the playoffs. The Lady Leopards finished third in Class 2A in 2023.
In Class 3A, which also is using the PRS for the playoffs, both North Hall (6-3A) and Cherokee Bluff (8-3A) come in as region champions. The Lady Bears are the third overall seed in 3A while the Lady Trojans are the No. 5 seed coming into the playoffs.
(See the entire first round schedule below:)
GHSA SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS, 1st round
(Best-of-three series at higher seed)
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16
Class 6A
North Forsyth (Region 6, Seed 4) at Brookwood (R7, S1) DH, 4 p.m.
Westlake R2, S4) at Buford (R8, S1) DH, 4 p.m.
Class 4A
ELCA (R2, S3) at East Forsyth (R8, S2) DH, 4:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Union County (22) at Shaw (11) DH, 3 p.m.
Class A D2
Towns County (R8, S4) at Lanier County (R2, S1), TBD
THURSDAY, Oct. 17
(Game 3, if necessary)
Class 6A
North Forsyth (Region 6, Seed 4) at Brookwood (R7, S1), 5 p.m.
Westlake R2, S4) at Buford (R8, S1), 5 p.m.
Class 4A
ELCA (R2, S3) at East Forsyth (R8, S2), 6 p.m.
Class 2A
Union County (22) at Shaw (11), 1 p.m.
Class A D2
Towns County (R8, S4) at Lanier County (R2, S1), TBD
FRIDAY, Oct. 18
Class 5A
Thomas County Central (R2, S3) at Jackson County (R8, S2) DH, 1 p.m.
Class 3A
Dawson County (22) at Pickens (11) DH, 12:30 p.m.
Douglass-Atlanta (30) at Cherokee Bluff (3) DH, 5 p.m.
East Hall (26) at Luella (7) DH, 4 p.m.
Howard (28) at North Hall (5) DH, 1 p.m.
Jefferson (17) at Lumpkin County (16) DH, 3:30 p.m.
White County (20) at Cairo (13) DH, 11 .m.
Class A D1
Commerce (28) at Banks County (5) DH, 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 19
(Game 3, if necessary)
Class 5A
Thomas County Central (R2, S3) at Jackson County (R8, S2), 11 a.m.
Class 3A
Dawson County (22) at Pickens (11), 11 a.m.
Douglass-Atlanta (30) at Cherokee Bluff (3), 5 p.m.
East Hall (26) at Luella (7), 11 a.m.
Howard (28) at North Hall (5), 11 a.m.
Jefferson (17) at Lumpkin County (16), noon
White County (20) at Cairo (13), 1 p.m.
Class A D1
Commerce (28) at Banks County (5), 11 a.m.
